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TWO YEARS
BEFORE THE MATCH

SM

January
Research the requirements for legal entry
into the United States including the F-1 visa for
full-time study. Prepare your application for
admission and supporting documents for the
I-20. Budget for the exam, prep options, and your
travel expenses.
Determine in what order you will plan to take
your USMLE exams. For instance, some students
prefer to take their Step 2CK exam prior to Step
1. Speak with a medical advisor to confirm our
recommended timeline is right for you.

February
Visit the ECFMG (Educational Commission for
Foreign Medical Graduates) website to learn
how to complete your certification. Apply for
authorization to register for the USMLE once
you have a solid plan for your USMLE prep. This is
your first step towards U.S. licensure.
Tip: The ECFMG requires that you have
graduated from an accredited school listed on the
International Medical Education Directory
(IMED). Find out if your school is qualified.
Dont forget! Start thinking about which
specialties you want to apply to. Your choice will
help set goals for your USMLE scores as well as
residency program targets.
Check out our Residency Secrets blog for more on
medical specialties, such as Internal Medicine or
Family Medicine.

February - August

November

Begin preparing for USMLE Step 1 (average

6-9 months of study time). Its important to
create a study plan that works for you. Reach
out to a trusted peer who has gone through the
process or consider making an appointment with a
medical advisor. Kaplan Medical offers a free
advising session to get you started. You can
request an appointment here.

Find out where Step 2 CS is being offered in the

U.S. and schedule your exam. Spots fill up quickly.

Tip: USMLE Step 1 focuses on basic sciences, such

as biochemistry and anatomy, which you learned
about in medical school. To do well on this exam,
you need a strong knowledge base in the basic
sciences and must be able to integrate concepts
across disciplines.

September
Take Step 1. Testing centers are located
throughout the country.
Tip: All test takers must apply to take the
USMLE, and you can do so through the
ECFMG. Information on how to apply and what
fees are associated with the exams are on the
USMLE website.

October-February
Begin prepping for Step 2 CK (average 4-6 months
of study time).
Tip: If youre studying at a Kaplan center, get
involved in your community. Now is a good time
to choose your specialty and find out where you
would like to practice medicine in the future.
Have you connected with our communities on
Facebook and Twitter?

Tip: Step 2 CS is administered in five select

locations across the country. Preparing for
this exam is important because it is a pass/fail
exam that tests how you communicate with patients by U.S. standards. It is significant that you
understand English well and speak it clearly but it
is not an English proficiency exam. Learn what to
say and how to say it.

December
Are there any clinical work opportunities in your
area? Some programs prefer candidates with U.S.
experience, but its not required. Research work,
writing, and volunteering are also great assets to
your residency applications.
Tip: Clinical experience is available all over the
country. If you can secure some time in a clinical
setting, it may help boost your application. Check
out some of the options on our website.

ONE YEAR
BEFORE THE MATCH SM

January
Do you know what kind of medicine you want to
practice? If not, its time to research specialties
and programs. Consider USMLE scores, your
education, your goals, and your personality when
making your decision.
Tip: In your home country, you may have been
practicing pediatrics or neurology. The NRMPs

survey, located here, is a good indication of

what scores are recommended for competitive
specialties in the U.S. Get to know your options
in family medicine and internal medicine from
the American Academy of Family Physicians or
American Board of Internal Medicine.

February
Take Step 2 CK. Testing centers are located
throughout the country.
Tip: Some IMGs may opt to take Step
3
after completing all other Steps (before
applying to The Match). It could strengthen your
residency application if you have deficiencies (for
example, a gap between your most recent clinical
experience and application to residency). Doing
so prior to residency makes you eligible to apply
for the H1B Visa. Your medical advisor will tell
you more.

March
Start working on yourpersonal statements. Dont
be afraid to pull from your own experiences
in medicine and education to craft personal
anecdotes that show your true character. Make
sure you have several proofreaders.
Tip: Your personal statement is your only
opportunity to illustrate who you are outside
of your USMLE scores before your interview. Its
an excellent time to showcase your expertise,
patient experience, passion for medicine, etc.
Our blog, Residency Secrets, offers excellent
advice on personal statements. Learn more and
join the conversation!

April-May
Take Step 2 CS. There are only five testing centers
throughout the country and spots fill up quickly,
so schedule your appointment as soon as possible.

September

March
ITS MATCH WEEK!

June

You can submit your personal statements,

letters of recommendation, and required USMLE
scores (Steps 1, 2 CK, and 2 CS) to the residency
programs you specify beginning on September
15th. ECFMG certification is also recommended to
apply. Applying early with a complete application
is strongly encouraged.

Request your ERAS token through the Online Applicant Status and Information System (OASIS)
administered through the ECFMG. The token is
a 14-digit alphanumeric code that grants you
access to your application.

Tip: Register with the NRMP (National Residency

Match Program). Even after you have submitted
your ERAS application, you are not eligible to
Match until you have received an NRMP candidate
number.

Tip: Plan to travel to your scheduled test center

location at least a day before your exam. Some
local hotels will have special rates for exam
takers. Additional travel information for the exam
locations is available from the CSEC (Clinical Skills
Evaluation Collaboration).

Tip: Remember that there are fees associated

with the ERAS. Each application has a cost. Review
all of your materials and ensure your application is
in place. The AAMC checklist is a key resource to
help you move through the process.

July-August
Begin uploading your letters of recommendation
(LORs), personal statements, and your completed
application throughMyERAS. Ask your writers to
submit through the AAMCs Letters of
Recommendation Portal (LoRP) once it opens.
Tip:Remember that letters from your home
country are fine, but obtaining at least one letter
from a U.S. physician is highly recommended to
improve your chances of receiving an invitation
to interview. Remember that letters may only be
submitted electronically through the LoRP (no
mailed letters).
Make sure youre making smart decisions about
your future today. They will ensure youre starting
residency this time next year.

October-January
Its time for interviews. Study your programs in
depth (and develop a firm handshake).
Tip: There are many tips and strategies
you can use to make a great impression on
interview day. Be courteous to everyone and
show up with a great attitude. Have talking points
prepared that explain why youre a good fit for
that specific program and address any gaps in
your application. Send thank you notes within a
week of your interview.

February
Submit your Rank Order Lists (ROL) through ERAS.
Tip: Ensure you only rank programs where youve
had an interview. Its best to rank based on your
interest level, not how you think they will rank
you. Honest rankings have better outcomes for
both sideswe promise.

Tip: The fear, the joy, the anticipation. Its

very emotional. Youve worked hard to get
to this point. If you or your friends matched,
you may feel as though youre floating on air.
Congratulations! How will you celebrate?
Some programs fill positions in their programs
outside of The Match as well, so be sure to speak
to your medical advisor about what options you
have, if you did not match.

July
Residency starts.
Tip: Each program will require you to take and
pass Step 3 by the end of your first year of
residency. Its a good idea to get a head start on it
before your residency begins!

Now its your turn.

Contact your med advisor.
Take your calendar to the next level
by getting a custom study plan that
works for you. Our med advisors are
here to help get you on the road to
residency today. Reach out. Well
reply within several days.

USMLE is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). ACGME is a registered trademark of the Accreditation Council for
Graduate Medical Education. The ECFMG is a registered trademark of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. The Match is a registered service mark of the National Resident
Matching Program (NRMP). The NRMP is not affiliated with Kaplan. Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) is a program of the association of American Medical Colleges and is not affiliated
with Kaplan. Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with Kaplan or this website. Kaplan does not guarantee
placement into any residency program.